602 Sole Source

The policies on this webpage have been streamlined and reformatted, and are now available on the University Policies webpage. We ask that you use this new resource, as future changes, additions to or eliminations of these policies will only be made to the University Policies webpage, and policy manuals you may have used in the past will no longer be updated.

Sole Source Purchases

Unique items or services may qualify for “sole source.” These purchases are to be treated as exceptions to normal bidding procedures. Signed documentation stipulating the reason for sole source must be included with the purchasing request.

Sole source documentation must

be made by a competent expert in the field in which the product will be used.

include a statement that, in the professional opinion of the certifying individual, it is the only product that can be used to accomplish the task necessary in an appropriate manner, and must list specific reasons why this is the case. And, verification that the product is available only from the source indicated with no other distribution network.

Authority to approve sole source purchasesA sole source with a cost of $100,000 or less may be purchased without bids with approval and within limits delegated by the CPO. Awards for unique items or services (other than design professional agreements, which require approval of the director, Facilities Planning and Development) of over $100,000 require approval of the CPO or designee.